Underwater capsule



Jan. 24, 1967 E A, |NK I 3,299,645

UNDERWATER CAPSULE Filed Jan. 2, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY Jan. 24,1967 E. A. LINK 3,299,645

UNDERWATER CAPSULE Filed Jan. 2, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY p marinevehicle with that of a self-contained diver.

United States Patent O 3,299,645 UNDERWATER CAPSULE Edwin A. Link,Binghamton, N.Y., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Gcean Systems,Inc., New York, NX., a corporation of New York Filed Jan. 2, 1964i, Ser.No. 335,251 Claims. (Cl. 61-69) This invention relates to an underwatercapsule and more particularly to an improved underwater capsule whichallows a human diver to operate at greater depths for an extended periodof time than heretofore possible.

It has long been known that, for a great many separate reasons, it ishighly desirable to enable an operator to work beneath the sea forsalvage, mining, and/or exploration operations. At the present time twoindividual undersea diving methods are employed. The rst consists `ofthe conventional heavy canvas diving suit together with a massiveprotective 'metal helmet. The user of this equipment, which includes anumber of lead weights, may operate in depths of several hundred feetfor a period of several hours, the total operational time being limitedby the fact that the return trip to the surface must be interrupted by anumber of time periods, at particular depths, in order to prevent bendswhich normally result from too rapid an ascension from the working depthto the surface. The second system, known as scuba diving, employs athin, waterproof suit and a selfcontained supply of breathingatmosphere, which is effective only for limited underwater exploration.

As is well-known, each of the above briefly described systems arecharacterized by the fact that the diver can remain submerged for only arelatively brief period of time at the desired working depth. By way ofexample, a helmeted diver can remain submerged to a depth of 200 feetfor a total period of less than 3 or 4 hours, and, additionally,requires a period of about 7 hours in order to ascend to the surfacefrom this depth. It clearly is obvious that each of the above disclosedsystems preclude extensive underwater operations.

According to the present invention there is provided a novel apparatuswhich is effective to allow one or more operators to be gainfullyengaged in undersea explorations for a period of time measured in days,weeks or even months, thereby combining the effectiveness of a sub- Itis well-known that a diver equipped with a conventional diving suit isunable, while so equipped, to either eat or drink, and, obviously,cannot possibly enjoy either a relaxation period or sleep. Ashereinafter more particularly described, it will be shown that theapparatus of the invention not only allows one or more persons tooperate etiiciently at a selected depth, but also provides necessaryfeeding and relaxation conditions. Essentially, the apparatus of theinvention provides a house under the sea.

Briefly, the invention provides at least one pressurized vehicle inwhich an operator can be housed during a period of submersion and,further, the operator can enter and leave the housing at will. Apparatusis included, controlled by the operator, to maintain the pressure withinthe Vehicle equal to or greater than the surrounding water pressure.Thus, when the undersea house is opened to allow the operator to freelyexplore the depths in his immediate neighborhood, water is effectivelyprevented from entering the housing. Additionally, since nitrogen has anadverse effect at depths in excess of 60 feet, the operator is providedwith a mixture of oxygen and helium, the mixture being adapted for theparticular depth at which the housing is located. Further, due to thediliiculty and expense of obtaining helium, the helium is recirculatedthrough the breathing system with only oxygen being added and carbondioxide being removed as necessary.

As a particular example, at a depth of 200 feet, the breathing mixturecomprises 97% helium and 3% oxygen, while at a depth of only 40 feet theoxygen content is raised to total 21% of the `overall mixture. Further,and this is an important feature of the invention, the operator, duringthe times he is located external t0 the housing system of the invention,is supplied with the necessary breathing mixture not directly from asurface vessel but directly from the housing system itself. In thismanner, the lung resistance problem is completely overcome, since theoperator is supplied not from an extensive, narrow, pressurized feedercable but merely through a short-length of tubing connected with thehousing apparatus at a pressure which is merely 2 or 3 p.s.i. above thepressure existing in the housing apparatus.

It is an object, therefore, to provide an improved underwater capsule.

Another object of the invention is to provide an underwater capsuleeffective to permit one or more operators to operate efficiently for anextended period of time at a .preselected depth.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel underwatercapsule operative to allow underwater farming.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improvedunderwater breathing system.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simplilieddecompression apparatus.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction,combination of elements, and arrangement of parts, which will beexemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope ofthe invention will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the inventionreference should be had to the following detailed description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. l is 'a diagrammatical illustration of the system of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the apparatus ofthe invention.

Before describing the apparatus of the invention in detail, it isbelieved pertinent to emphasize yet another important feature of theinvention, which is the recognition of the fact that, essentiallyindependent of the total time an operator is submerged or remainssubmerged at selected depths, the overall decompression time remains aconstant. By way of example, with the helium-oxygen breathing mixtureemployed in the apparatus of the invention, the human body becomescompletely saturated with helium after a duration of approximately 12hours. Further exposure to the helium-oxygen mixture thereafter will notincrease the quantity of helium absorbed into the bodys circulatorysystem. Therefore, if the operator remains submerged for a day, a week,or month, the total decompression time is constant. Prolonged submersionto a depth of 200 feet requires a decompression time of 16 to 18 hours,and prolonged submersion at 400 feet necessitates a decompression time0f 18 to 24 hours; each of these times being independent of the timeduration expended by the operator at the recited depths. Further, aswill become apparent as the description proceeds, the basic housingprovided by the invention allows the decompression to be attained eithersubmerged or even on board the surface vehicle.

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 diagrammatically illustrated afirst preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the invention. As thereshown, a mother ship 10 provides support for the underwater exploration.

attain a selected depth by means of a winch 14 cooperating with a chain16 to raise and lower housing 12, the lower end of chain 16 beingsecured to (the sea bottom by an anchor 18. Also connected to the upperportion of the housing 12 are a plurality of Vcables 20, one of whichsupplies the pressurized breathing mixture from ship to housing 12,another one of which returns the exhausted mixture from housing 12 toship 10 and the remaining cables coupling the necessary power andcommunication systems between the ship and the housing. Additionally, yaWeight 22 is secured to a lower portion of housing 12 in order tomaintain the housing in approximately vertical condition.

Housing 12, hereinafter more particularly described, which effectivelyfunctions as an elevator, includes a number of viewing ports 24effective to permit an operator contained therein to view the externalsurroundings. Additionally, in the lower portion of housing 12 are apair of hatches 26 and 36, which allow an operator to selectivelyexplore the area external to the h-ousing. Further, it should be notedthat the use of a pair of hatches positioned in the lower portion ofhousing 12, is of extreme importance when housing 12 is employed as lanelevator; that is when conveying one or more divers from the surface toa selected depth. This results from the fact that during the ascent anddescent of the elevator, the pressure within the divers compartment 40is maintained relatively constant, although the external water pressureis varying at approximately one-half pound per foot. If initially thepressure internal of housing 12 was set to correspond to the waterpressure encountered at a depth of 2 00 feet, it will be seen that thatinternal pressure is substantially greater than the surf-ace waterpressure, tending to allow the internal pressure to exhaust externally.However, at a desired depth of about 400 feet, the internal pressure ismuch less than the external water pressure, resulting in the Watertending to enter the internal volume of housing 12. It is obvious thatthese opposing forces, which are analagous to tension and compression,result in severe design requirements should a single hatch be employed,such as in a submarine wherein the internal pressure is always less thanthe external water pressure. Although it is possible to maintain thepressure within the housing equal to the external pressure duringvertical movement of the elevator, such a complex apparatus necessarilyis relatively expensive and increases the hazards encountered by thedivers. By means of compound hatches 26 and 36, however, the rst ofwhich opens outwardly and the second of which opens inwardly, theproblem is solved in an economical and eicient manner. Thus the purposeof hatch 26 is to restrain the external water pressure, and that ofhatch 36 is to confine the breathing mixture internal of housing 12. Itshould be apparent, that, from the substantially vertical position ofthe housing together with the fact that the pressure within the housingis maintained equal to or greater than the surrounding water pressurewhen the housing has reached the desired depth, hatches 26 and 36 mayreadily be opened without any water entering the interior section of thehousing. Thus an operator within the housing can selectively leave andreturn to the housing at will, all without the necessity of removingwater from the internal area of the hous- Housing 12 is essentially aself-contained underwater capsule which, not only operates in a mannersimilar to an elevator, but can also be employed as a base for one ofmore operators. Additionally, housing 12 operates as a decompressionchamber Within which the operator is relaxibly contained during thenecessary decompression time interval, either while submerged or even onboard ship 10.

Also shown in FIG. l, is a further housing 28 which includes a number ofbreathing mixture tanks 30. Alternatively, of course, housing 28 couldbe directly supplied from ship 10 as is housing 12. As should now beapparent, housing 28 can have any desired dimensions sufficient toprovide support and housing conditions for a predetermined number ofoperators. As shown, housing 28 is secured to the sea bottom by a numberof anchors 32 although other and various devices may be so employed ifdesired.

In operation, it being remembered that the capsule of the invention iseffective to permit one or more operators to remain at a great depth foran extended period of time, housing 12 is immersed into the sea fromship 10, the pressure within the housing being maintained at a levelsuilicient to prevent the entry of water therein. At this time anoperator enters the housing through hatch 26 and operates winch 14 tocause the housing to attain the desired depth. At this depth theoperator, through the use of hosing 34 may then emerge from the housingand engage in an exploration or other desired operations returning tothe housing for rest and relaxation as desired. Alternatively, ofcourse, the operator may leave housing 12 and enter housing 28 through ahatch 33. It is important to note, and this is an important aspect ofthe invention, that the selfcontained diver while operating remotelyfrom either of housings 12 or 28 is supplied with a breathing mixturedirectly from the associated housing. By this method the pressure inhosing 34 is merely 2 to 3 p.s.i. greater than the pressure within thehousing. This important feature permits improved efficiency of thediver, since his breathing mixture is not supplied through severalhundred feet of small tubing. Thus, the breathing mixture is fed tohousing 12, or contained upon housing 28, and the mixture is provideddirectly from these housings to the diver rather than being directlysupplied from ship lli). Additionally, which is another importantfeature of the invention, a mixture of helium and oxygen is suppliedfrom ship 10 to eliminate any possibility of nitrogen narcosis affectingthe operations of the diver. As a result of the expense and thediil'iculty of obtaining helium, the helium is continually recirculatedthrough the system. The associated breathing mixture from housing 12 isreturned to ship 10 whereat the carbon dioxide is removed from themixture by a conventional lithium hydroxide filter, and oxygen is addedat a percentage sucient to insure that the absolute quantity deliveredto the diver is independent of the operating depth.

It should also be noted that mobility, improved depth control, andportability are especially significant advantages to a diver Who is notdependent on an umbilical connection to the mother ship. Operating froma submerged housing, such as housing 28, he is not subjected to theforces incurred from surface storms. Important work reaching a criticalpoint will not have to be interrupted to make the then dangerous returnto the mother ship bulfeted by high seas. Further, long drawn outrepeated decompression cycles will not have to be continuously madeduring large scale diving operations, since the divers involved canreturn into and relax Within inated housing 28. Although thedecompression cycle for deep dives is necessarily lengthened, as aresult of the total amount of helium absorbed in the blood stream, theadvantages gained by the lengthier Work and rest periods on the bottommore than compensate for this inconvenience. The combined savings incommuting time alone for deep dives will at least double theeffectiveness of diving teams, and the additional 400 feet of depthenlarges the possible diving areas of the world by a factor of 20. Itshould be noted that this feature is of extreme importance when it isunderstood that the diver or divers can relax and live in submergedhousing 28 for essentially an unlimited time interval.

As the diver descends to the selected depth by means of the elevator,the inflatable house 28 is also transported to the sea bottom.Thereafter, the diver, or divers leave the elevator and inflate housing28 and prepare it for habitation. During the extended period duringwhich the diver or divers remain at the selected depth, housing 28 isemployed as the living quarters, and, as will be understood, theinatable underwater house contains the necessary life support andcommunication systems including individual breathing support systems,the exposure suits, living comfort equipment such as sleeping bags,electric blankets, water, food, and waste containers, closed-loop TVsystems, and the necessary biomedical instrumentation. Again it shouldbe noted that the uninflated housing 28, when released from the mothership rapidly descends to the sea bottom through the action of anchorweights 32, yet when inflated by one or more divers thereafter providescomfortable quarters for the divers living therein. Again, since housing28 is generally inated to a pressure greater than that of thesurrounding sea water, hatch 33 can remain open to provide an exit andentranceway for the divers, without any danger of water entering intoand flooding the internal volume Iof the housing. Finally, only a singlehatch is necessary on housing 28, since during its descent the pressurewithin the housing is always less than the water pressure and afterinflation, when the hatch is open, the internal pressure is normallymaintained greater than the water pressure at the selected depth.

Referring now to FIG. 2, there is illustrated a more detailed view ofelevator 12. As there shown, three hatches 26, 36 and 38 are employed tonot only allow a diver to enter from and return to the housing whilesubmerged at the selected depth, but also to provide entry tonourishments during the decompression time interval during which thediver remains in a pressurized environment. By Way of example, duringdecompression, which may occur either on board ship or underwater, thevarious hatches are employed in order to provide food and drink to thediver while he remain in a pressurized environment. Assume now thathousing 12 has been returned to ship 10 after the diver has remained ata depth -of several hundred feet for an extended period of time. Ashereinbefore pointed out, if being exposed to a depth of 400 feet for aperiod in excess of 12 hours, the diver must remain in a pressurizedenvironment, the pressure being reduced in steps during a period ofbetween 18 and 24 hours. In order to supply the diver with nourishment,hatch 38 is first closed to isolate compartment 40 from the remainder ofthe housing. Next, hatches 26 and 36 are opened and the food or othersupplies are placed within compartment 42. Hatches 26 and 36 are thenreclosed and the operator within housing 12 then increases the pressureof chamber 42 to equal that of compartment 40. At this time hatch 38 isopened allowing the operator access to the supplies positioned inchamber 42. This operation can be repeated a number of times until thetermination of the decompression time interval.

What has been described is a novel underwater capsule Which permitsextended underwater operation of one or more divers in a mannerheretobefore not obtainable.

lt will thus be seen that the object set forth above, among those madeapparent from the preceding description, are efliciently attained, andsince certain changes may be made in the above construction Withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention, it is intended that allmatter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanyingdrawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limitingsense.

What is claimed is:

1. An underwater capsule for providing support for an operator beneaththe sea comprising,

(a) a submerged inated housing member of sufficient 6 size forinhabitation by at least one human operator;

(b) anchoring means on the sea water oor secured to said housing memberfor positioning such member in the submerged state;

(c) adjustable pressurizing means for inflating the submerged housingmember and maintaining same at pressure greater than the pressure of thesurrounding sea water;

(d) a normally opened hatch device located in the lower wall of saidhousing member to provide human ingress and egress to said housingmember; and

(e) a source of breathing mixture attached to said housing member.

2. The capsule of claim 1 further including means to supply said atleast one human operator from said source of breathing mixture at apressure only 2 to 3 p.s.i. greater than the pressure within saidinflated housing member.

3. The method of providing support for an operator beneath the seacomprising the steps of,

(a) submerging an inflatable but uninflated housing member including asource of breathing mixture for said operator;

(b) positioning said submerged housing member at a predeterminedlocation;

(c) inflating said housing member with a breathable gaseous mixture to apressure slightly greater than the surrounding water pressure, saidinflated housing member including an opening in the lower surfacethereof to provide said operator with a passageway to and from theinterior of said housing member; and supplying said operator whileexternal of said housing member for an extended time interval withbreathing mixture from said source, said breathing mixture beingmaintained at a pressure 2 to 3 p.s.i. greater than the pressure withinsaid housing member.

4. The method of providing support for a diver for essentially anunlimited time interval comprising the steps of,

(a) submerging a housing member containing life support andcommunication systems to a predetermined location beneath the sea;

(b) anchoring said housing member at said predetermined location;

(c) thereafter pressurizing the submerged housing member to a pressureequal to or greater than the surrounding water pressure, saidpressurized housing member having an opening in the extreme lowerportion thereof;

(d) transporting said diver in a self-contained underwater capsule tothe depth of said submerged housing member; and Y (e) transferring saiddiver from said self-contained underwater capsule to said life supportand cornmunication systems Within said housing member.

5. The method of providing support for a diver for essentially anunlimited time interval beneath the sea at depths in excess of 200 feetand returning said diver to the surface, comprising the steps of,

(a) submerging a housing member containing life support andcommunication systems to a predetermined location beneath the sea;

(b) anchoring said housing member at said predetermined location;

(c) pressurizing said housing member to a pressure equal to or greaterthan the surrounding water pressure, said pressurized housing memberincluding an opening in the extreme lower portion thereof;

(d) transporting said diver in a pressurized dual compartment underwatercapsule containing alternate life support and communication systems,each of said compartments being interconnected and individuallypressurizable and each normally mainp l tained at a pressure equal tothe pressure within said housing member;

(e) decoupling said diver from said alternate life support andcommunications systems within said capsule and coupling said diver tosaid life support and communications systems within said housing memberfor the time interval said diver remains submerged and thereafterrecoupling said diver to said alternate life support and communicationsystems;

(f) positioning said diver in a first of said dual compartments of saidunderwater capsule and selectively reducing the pressure to atmosphericin timed steps Within said first compartment during and after the timeperiod required to return said capsule to the surface; and

(g) periodically reducing the pressure Within the second of said-compartments to equal the surrounding pressure, placing a supply ofmaterials therein, and repressurizing said second compartment to equalReferences Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 962,019 v6/1910Flood et al. 6l-69.1 1,008,301 ll/1911 Baker 61-69.1 Y 1,223,515 4/1917Papanastasiou 61--69 X 1,795,408 3/1931 ORourke 61-69 2,479,217 8/ 1949Diamond 61--69 2,798,639 7/1957 Urban 52-2 X FOREIGN PATENTS 2,268 1858Great Britain.

OTHER REFERENCES The Washington Post, April 7, v1940, page 12.

CHARLES E. OCONNELL, Primary Examiner.

20 JACOB sHAPIRo, Examiner.

1. AN UNDERWATER CAPSULE FOR PROVIDING SUPPORT FOR AN OPERATOR BENEATHTHE SEA COMPRISING, (A) A SUBMERGED INFLATED HOUSING MEMBER OFSUFFICIENT SIZE FOR INHABITATION BY AT LEAST ONE HUMAN OPERATOR; (B)ANCHORING MEANS ON THE SEA WATER FLOOR SECURED TO SAID HOUSING MEMBERFOR POSITIONING SUCH MEMBER IN THE SUBMERGED STATE; (C) ADJUSTABLEPRESSURIZING MEANS FOR INFLATING THE SUBMERGED HOUSING MEMBER ANDMAINTAINING SAME